Tribal members and their families are given the opportunity to work on regalia and share techniques with fellow Potawatomi at Festival each year. During Friday and Saturday of the annual event, theCultural Heritage Center hosts regalia making classes where items such as shawls, moccasins, medallions and bandoliers are crafted.

“We’ve really tried to make our regalia and craft making supplies readily available in the FireLake Gift Shop,” said CHC Director Dr. Kelli Mosteller. “There are a lot more prepackaged and individuallypriced items that we have on the gift shop floor for customers to easily look at. We anticipate having the same schedule last year with all of the regalia making classes such as applique, quill earring, moccasins, shawl and fringing, medallion beading and several more.”

The CHC will host arts and crafts activities all day Fri., June 26. Both morning and afternoon sessions are open with a break for lunch in between. On Saturday the classes will only occur in the morning as all activities are ceased for General Council on Saturday afternoon.

“We encourage everyone to enter the art contests and we hope to see lots of people making regalia at one of the classes this year,” said Dr. Mosteller.

Along with regalia making classes Tribal members have the opportunity to enter their works in adult and children’s art competitions.

All enrolled CPN Tribal Members over the age of 16 are eligible to enter the adult art competition. All entries must be of an “Indian Heritage” theme. Entries must be the work of the artist without assistance and must have been completed within two years of the art competition date. Eligible artists must submit their art at the Cultural Heritage Center prior to the General Council meeting onSaturday afternoon. Entries will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day. Each artist is limited to, but not required to submit three entries.

Winners will be announced at general council on Saturday afternoon. Only one prize will be awarded to each contestant. Any contestant that wins more than one prize will be awarded only the higher of the prizes. There will be two categories, ‘photography or painting’ and ‘other’. Art show submissions will be on display Saturday at the Cultural Heritage Center.

Complete exhibits at the Cultural Heritage Center will not be displayed as the museum is still undergoing reconstruction resulting from the 2014 flood. CPN Eagle Aviary Managers Jennifer Randell and Bree Dunham will also be at the CHC with Myanabe, the Potawatomi golden eagle, after lunch on Sat., June 27 before General Council.

For more information please contact the Cultural Heritage Center at 405-878-5830. To see the full 2015 Festival schedule, please click here.